Kristin Pearce, a Clovis native, received a master’s degree in management, and will use it to further her career in the contracting squadron at Cannon Air Force Base.

Pearce said Wayland Baptist was a good fit for her.

“It really worked around my schedule with work, and I was able to combine the two without any problems,” she said. “I enjoyed it.”

During his commencement address, Mitchell took time to applaud the family members and friends of the graduates.

“I know that their accomplishment is also your accomplishment,” he told the audience. “All of us here at Wayland Baptist University applaud the support, the encouragement and the dedication that you have shown for these graduates to get them here.”

Commencement speaker Joe Strickland, director of human resources for Clovis Municipal Schools, posed a simple question to the graduates: What are you going to do with the rest of your life?